Each week, Evolve502 is introducing members of the Student Success Team. Members of the Student Success Team serve as liaisons with JCPS high schools and work directly with Evolve502 Scholarship applicants to help students complete the application process and prepare for college. This week, meet Autumn Windom, who joined Evolve502 in February 2023.
Name: Autumn Windom
Title: I am a student Success Coordinator and I work with the JCPS Academies of Louisville schools to provide hands-on experiences and connections with JCTC career opportunities.
Hometown: Savannah, Ga.
Education: I attended the University of Louisville, and I earned two bachelor’s Degrees. I double majored in Pan-African Studies and Interpersonal Communications.
What led you to Evolve502? My interests in higher education came from my experience working in the admissions office of UofL. I was able to work with a diverse range of high school students who were perspective interests of the university. I also worked for the backpack league for Evolve502 when I was still attending college, this experience introduced me to this organization. The student success coordinator position combines my interests of assisting students in higher education as well as mentoring and school guidance to provide high school students with the resources they need to achieve their goals after high school. I love being a catalyst for students who know their path but may not have all the right answers to it just yet.
What’s the best part of your job? The best part of my job is working with high school counselors to collaborate our efforts in providing students with the resources that will allow them to achieve their goals. I also love interacting with students and talking with them through their barriers and goals.
What advice do you have for students who are considering their college and career options for post high school? My advice for students considering their college and career options is to ensure that you really evaluate your life and what makes you happy. Think about what brings you enjoyment and build off that. You may not know what you want to do right now and that is okay, but you want to make sure that you have options when you choose to make your decision.
Think about what brings you enjoyment and build off that. You may not know what you want to do right now and that is okay, but you want to make sure that you have options when you choose to make your decision.
Autumn Windom
What do you wish you had known when you started college that would have better prepared you for the experience? Try to stay as organized as possible. Applying for college can be confusing with so much paperwork and applications to fill out. Ensure that you keep track of scholarship and application deadlines and put them in your calendar so that you are not missing any opportunities. Lastly do not be afraid to ask for help from the resources around you. I wish I knew all the resources that were available to me when starting college and I would not have had to deal with so many issues alone along the way.
What is one random/fun fact about you? A random fact about me is that because my father was in the military, we moved consistently in my younger years, and I attended 6 different elementary schools in 5 different states. My favorite states were Arizona and Alaska; when my family left Alaska, we actually drove all the way to Alabama. It took us seven days.